Pat Riley: Heat improved after trading Jimmy Butler

Edit by Qwame Skinner Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images, David Gonzales-Imagn Images

The Miami Heat haven’t had the success they were hoping for following their surprising run to the NBA Finals in 2023, when they ultimately lost to the Denver Nuggets. Last season, the Heat made the decision to reset and build around forward Bam Adebayo, and traded star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors.

The Heat failed to make the playoffs this season, falling to the Charlotte Hornets in the Play-In Tournament, but in his end-of-season press conference, longtime Heat executive Pat Riley made it clear that in his eyes, Miami did improve in its firt season of the post-Butler era.

“When you look back at what we did with Jimmy, in that trade. Winning 37 (games) last year for a lot of reasons and then winning 6 more this year. That’s an improvement,” Riley said.

Riley also made sure to refute recent rumors that he was parting ways with the Heat organization, where he has overseen two NBA titles.

“I’m not going to retire. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to step aside,” he said. “When I came here almost 31 years ago, I have the same attitude as I had in that press conference, period. I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard. It may come. It may not.”

It’s clear that a major change is needed to get Miami back to the mountaintop. However, Riley will be staying put, and he is insisting that Adebayo will as well.